The ‘Talk to Mayor’ programme of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is having its impact far and wide. In a recent case, the life of a new born child was saved, after the parents, who are residents of Birbhum, contacted the KMC mayor Firhad Hakim for help. The couple ~ Sumanta and Arpita Ghatak ~ hailing from Sainthia in Birbhum, had been running from pillar to post to gather money for the treatment of their child who was admitted in a hospital in Kolkata.

It was learnt from a KMC official that the child concerned was suffering from illness right after birth on 24 August, and was shifted to a medical facility in Birbhum. Attending doctors there had reportedly declared that the child has low chances of survival. The couple had then shifted the child to a hospital at EM Bypass in Kolkata where treatment was on for at least 25 days. The cost of the treatment was, however, increasing with each passing day and had already risen to around Rs 6 lakhs.

The couple, realising that they will not be able to shell out more money for treatment in the Kolkata hospital, decided to take their child back to Birbhum. It was at this moment that the couple came to know about the ‘Talk to Mayor’ programme through which they contacted the KMC mayor and the state’s urban development and municipal affairs (UDMA) minister, Firhad Hakim for help. The couple, on contacting the mayor. were assured that they need not take the child back till the treatment is completed and the child is cured. Mr Hakim had assured that all treatment cost will be covered by him.

After prolonged treatment, the child has recovered from the earlier deteriorating condition. The couple was elated to see their recovered child who doctors reportedly had said will not be able to survive for long. The Ghatak couple came to meet the mayor, Firhad Hakim, with the child and conveyed their utmost gratitude, saying, “We will never forget the helping hand the mayor extended towards us in times of dire need. We hardly have any words to describe how we feel about getting our child back from the hands of death.”

The mayor, Firhad Hakim, said: “I am happy that I could be of some help to the distressed couple in saving their new born. In our daily schedule, we are all burdened with our responsibilities but taking time out from that and helping someone reminds us that there is nothing greater than humanity.”